The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has expressed sadness over the death of the spokesman of the Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, saying the Forum’s disagreement with him was on principle.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, the forum said while he was alive, Odumakin held on to his views very strongly.
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He added that although the ACF often disagreed with him on many issues, it still respected what Odumakin stood for.
“Our disagreements were however on principle and not personal. The fundamental difference is that the Afenifere group admits only descendants of Oduduwa as members, while we in the ACF admit even descendants of Oduduwa who are northerners. The nature of our membership, accommodating hundreds of ethnic groups has made it very difficult to always agree with a group whose membership is limited to one ethnic group,” Yawe said.
He said the ACF would continue to hope that the Afenifere will one day turn a new leaf and see issues “not from the narrow and limited perspective of one ethnic group but from the broad perspective of a multi-ethnic Federal Republic”.
“We had hoped that Odumakin will live long enough to work for and see the new day.”
“His death today has robbed us of that opportunity. We however pray for the condolences of his family and his colleagues in Afenifere. We shall certainly miss him,” Yawe stated.
